Giveaway: Real Moms, Real Jesus
June 22, 2009 by AmyS
What does Jesus know about the peanut-butter-and-jelly life of a mom? Plenty! Jill Savage, founder and director of Hearts at Home, introduces the real Jesus to real moms. In chapters that examine key behaviors and decisions Jesus made during His life on earth, Jill brings those lessons right down to the laundry-filled, sticky-fingered days every mother knows.
Between the chapters are interactive vignettes that turn the concept of the book back around. If the meat of the content is looking at Jesus’ life on earth and understanding how to apply that in our everyday lives, these perspective vignettes are brief, refreshing glimpses starting with our own messy, busy lives. Jill continually reminds the reader that Jesus is not an unattainable deity, but a Friend who understands.
About the Author
Jill Savage is the founder and executive director of Hearts at Home, an organization committed to helping moms love their life. She and her husband, Mark, a senior pastor, have been married for over two decades and have five children, one of whom is married.
We are thrilled to have the opportunity to give away TWO copies of Real Moms, Real Jesus. Leave a comment to be entered. Comments will be closed Friday, June 26th at 10:00pm EST. The winners will be notified by email.
Giveaway: Homeschool Co-Ops
June 8, 2009 by Karin
**The winner are Donna and Phyllis.
If you believe in the old adage of “there is strength in numbers” or “many hands make light work” then you are probably a good candidate for a homeschool co-op and if there isn’t one in your area then maybe it’s time you start one yourself!
Homeschool Co-ops: How to start them, run them, and not burn out by Carol Topp (Aventine Press; 2008) is just the book for anyone who is interested in starting or running a successful homeschool co-op. Successful in the sense that it meets the goals of the members and doesn’t burn out the organizer in the process.
Homeschool C0-op: a group of homeschooling parents that voluntarily unit together to educate their children. Comes in all shapes and sizes.
Written by a homeschooling mother and Certified Public Accountant the book is packed with both encouraging words and useful information.
Chapters include:
Benefits of Co-ops
There are many advantages to co-ops but two of my favorites from this chapter are socialization and sharing special talents and skills.
Disadvantages of Co-ops I think it’s great that Carol included a chapter on disadvantages because like homeschooling itself, one size doesn’t fit all and for some the disadvantages may outweigh the advantages.
Different types of co-ops
At this chapter I knew I was interested in co-ops but I was definately nervous about whether or not what I wanted really was infact, a co-op. After reading this chapter I was relieved to see that co-ops can be as diverse as the homeschoolers who join them!
Your first planning meeting
Okay, so you’ve learned the pros and cons and (hopefully have) determined the type of co-op that interests you, now what? This chapter is like a mini workbook that gets you on track with outlining and planning your co-op.
What’s in a name? Names, Missions and Purposes
For some this is the fun part but it’s also a crucial one. Contains everything you need to know about choosing a name, mission and purpose.
Leadership
If you are the type of person to think about starting up a co-op chances are you are a leader. But you cannot do it alone and this chapter tells you why.
Co-op Offerings
This chapter is packed with ideas taken from homeschooling co-ops across the country. There are lists of classes by age, topic and even curriculum. Get your highlighter ready!
Money Management
Everything you would expect from a CPA…
Managing Volunteers and Conflict
Unfortunately many great ideas never make it to fruition because of conflict. This chapter speaks specifically to the issues that cause many co-ops to fail.
Ready for the next step?
Though this chapter may never apply to you, it does tell you the basics of what you need to know about gaining 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt status.
Avoiding Burnout
An encouraging chapter on what you can do to avoid burnout and keep yourself and your co-op on track.
I can think of no better book to read this summer to get you excited about the upcoming school year and co-op opportunities. To kick off a great summer of planning, TWO lucky Heart of the Matter readers can receive this book free!
To enter, simply leave a comment. Comments will be closed on Friday, June 12th at 10:00pm EST and the winners will be notified by email.
Visit Carol Topp’s website: HomeschoolCPA.com for more useful information and resources.
The HomeScholar Giveaway!
April 20, 2009 by AmyS
Lee Binz, The HomeScholar is having a give-away! She and her husband Matt are offering one free month on The HomeScholar Gold Care Club.
What is the Gold Care Club?
- It is a membership website filled with homeschooling high school training for parents who would love to homeschool high school but lack some of the necessary knowledge, tools and confidence.
- It is a place where you can go to get your homeschooling high school questions answered through video and audio training, and also through personal consultations with Lee Binz, The HomeScholar - a homeschooling high school expert and trusted friend.
- It is a place where you can find tools, templates, planning guides, and articles that will help you navigate the high school years with an eye toward college.
- Finally, it is a place where you can find the answers to your “Biggest Questions.” The questions that may have kept you from fully committing to homeschooling your kids all the way through high school graduation.
You can think of it as a personal homeschooling high school support group - but without the lukewarm coffee or hard metal chairs.
We are launching The HomeScholar Gold Care Club on Tuesday April 21 at 12 noon (Pacific Time.) The Launch will include some wonderful bonuses and early responder gifts. You can find full offer details here: The Gold Care Club Offer.
How to Win a Free Month membership to The Gold Care Club:
- It’s simple. Add a comment on my blog, The HomeScholar Helper that in about 100 words or less answers the question:
“Why Do I Deserve a Free Month in The Gold Care Club?”
The best response will be awarded a FREE ONE MONTH GOLD CARE CLUB!! We are looking for the most creative and humorous answer. No sob-stories please - think comedy, rather than tragedy! If you join the club on 4/21 and then win the contest, we will happily refund your first month’s payment.
Here is a short video that also explains the Gold Care Club in more detail:
Guess What Today Is? (giveaway too)
April 20, 2009 by AmyS
All of us here at HOTM would like to wish the beautiful and talented Amy Bayliss an uber fabulous birthday! Amy, you are an amazing woman of God and we all hope your day is as special as you are.
In honor of Amy’s birthday, we are giving away a very cool gift valued at $125!!
Jonathan Park Creation Adventure Audio Library (5 CD Albums)
Follow young Jonathan Park and his paleontologist family on their exciting creation adventures around the globe. Each Jonathan Park episode is based upon real places and facts, featuring action-packed storylines that reveal specific evidences for Scripture’s creation account. Join Jonathan’s family and the Creation Response Team as they recover amazing treasures from Earth’s past, discover biblical answers to scientific issues of the day, and debate evolutionists about the true history of our world! Each 12-episode Jonathan Park album comes with its own corresponding study guide.
We would like your help in promoting and livening up our new forum. We will be taking the giveaway entries from the posts on the forum, so all you need to do is simply register and post. You can post about anything you would like, on any of the 50+ different sub-categories. Reply to someone or start your own topic. You can enter this giveaway up to 7 times with 7 different posts…although please feel free to post as much as you would like.
And don’t forget to leave Amy a happy birthday comment!
Earth Day Giveaway
April 6, 2009 by The Amies
The winner is Melissa of Sweet Serendipity.
Are you ready for Earth Day 2009?
Earth Day provides an excellent opportunity for us as homeschooling parents to teach our kids to take care of the wonderful world God has created for us!
The theme this year is The Green Generation
Let your kids share their thoughts on recycling by participating in CurrClick.com’s Green Generation Cartoon Caption Contest
CurrClick.com is giving a $25.00 Gift Certificate here at Heart of the Matter Online
Simply go to www.CurrClick.com and choose your favorite title(s) up to $25. Then, leave a comment sharing the title(s). Don’t forget to leave a direct link to the title so others can check it out your pick. Comments will be closed on Thursday, April 9th at 10:00pm EST and the winner will be notified by email.
In Loving Memory - giveaway
April 3, 2009 by AmyS
The winner is Lorraine of Where Learning begins.
I am so excited to offer this amazing giveaway…my friend and scrapbook author Tania Willis is offering one lucky scrapbooker a free spot in her online “Get It Scrapped” class. The title of her class is In Loving Memory.
This 5-week course takes place once per week from April 9 to May 7.
Words from Tania:
I will help spur you on to create an album dedicated to a loved one you have lost, all the while encouraging you to be gentle on yourself through the process. I will provide prompts and challenges to help you get your thoughts in order and onto the page, as well as suggestions for selecting photos and how to overcome the dilema of not having many photos at all. In addition, page sketches will be offered and a variety of embellishment techniques will be taught along the way.
There’s not a better way to complete a treasured project than in the company of a supportive teacher who is on her own journey of remembrance after losing her mom very suddenly and unexpectedly the summer of 2007. “It’s scrapbooking as a healing therapy, not just art.”
To enter our giveaway, simply leave a comment before Monday April 6 at 10pm EST. The winner will be notified by email.
Easter Giveaway
March 24, 2009 by Marsha
Denise M. is the winner of this giveaway– CONGRATS!
Now that Spring is finally here (even if it doesn’t quite feel like it in some parts of the country), we begin to see signs of new life all around us. The budding trees and greening grass also remind me that Easter will soon be here. Easter– Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection– is the only reason that WE have new life. Out of all the lessons that we teach our children, this is the most important!
Two of my favorite resources in sharing the gospel message with my children (and their friends) are Resurrection Eggs and a wonderful book called The Tale of Three Trees.
Easter comes alive in children’s hands with the memorable objects inside each of the twelve colorful plastic eggs. The different memory-grabbing objects take Jesus’ journey to the cross and beyond right into children’s hearts. Now with a revised bilingual booklet in simple language, discover how the anticipation, surprise, and experience of Resurrection Eggs® has brought the truth of Easter to children around the globe.
Once upon a mountaintop, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up… So begins this enchanting American folktale about three trees whose wishes come true in a surprising way.
To help you share the truth of Easter with your family, we would like to give away one set of Resurrection Eggs and the book The Tale of Three Trees (hardback). To enter, leave a comment telling us about one of your family Easter traditions– be it serious or silly, current or from way-back-when! Contest will close at 10pm on Wednesday, April 1st.
We don’t really have any Easter traditions at our house. With my husband’s work schedule, we never know if he’ll be home or even if we’ll be home instead of visiting with family. The only thing that we are sure to do every year is go to church. I can’t think of a better place to celebrate Jesus’ great sacrifice and wondrous resurrection than God’s house!
Marsha is proud to be the Mrs. to David for over 12 years. They have been homeschooling their rowdy boys in the Lone Star State for over 5 years. When she’s feeling like a slacker, you can find her drinking coffee, reading a book and writing at her blog — and sometimes all at the same time! You can find Marsha at Our Homeschool and Other Such Happenings.
Meeting Liz Curtis Higgs & A Giveaway!
March 8, 2009 by Angela
The winner is Shannon of Everyday Moments.
A few weeks ago I noticed that one of my favorite Christian authors had a Facebook page! I quickly requested her as a friend and waited–about 3 minutes before she added me! She then posted on my Facebook page a very kind, very personal response. I took a slow breath, then immediately called my entire family so they would see that LIZ CURTIS HIGGS wrote on my Facebook wall!!! I quickly noticed from her biography that she would be in Nebraska within the next two weeks. I would get to meet Liz Curtis Higgs!!!
Let me tell you, if you have never attended a conference hosted by Liz you absolutely must, MUST check out her schedule and plan to attend. Her website can be found here: http://lizcurtishiggs.com
Okay, so the awesome part–besides meeting her and having a picture to prove it– I have 3 autographed children’s books and 2 autographed women’s books to give away.
- Bad Girls of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them, book #1 in her acclaimed series that has sold over a million copies. Liz Curtis Higgs breathes new life into ancient tales about the most infamous—and intriguing—women in scriptural history, from Jezebel to Mary Magdalene.
- Embrace Grace, winner of a 2007 Retailers Choice Award, presents her message of hope in an engaging and personal way, speaking directly to the hearts of her readers.
- The Parable of the Lily, through the unique gift of a bulb, young Maggie discovers the power of grace and forgiveness and the true meaning of Easter.
- The Pumpkin Patch Parable, illustrates how God’s transforming love can fill each of our hearts with joy and light.
- The Pine Tree Parable, the heartwarming tale of a farmer and his family who learn the true meaning of Christmas.
To enter, we’d love to know if you’ve ever met a celebrity in real life– be it an author, actor or even superhero! If not, let us know who you’d like to meet.
Leave your comment before Monday, March 16th at 10pm EST.
Fireproof your marriage winner
February 19, 2009 by The Amies
Thank you to all who entered our Fireproof Your Marriage giveaway last week. I wish we could every single one of you this package of goodies. However, only one winner can be chosen, and the random number generator says…the winner is…
Lisa at Blessed With Grace, who stated that she shows love to her husband in these 3 special ways:
1. Greet him at the door, when he comes home from work, with a big hug and “romantic” kiss
2. Make him his favorite meal -chicken fried stead, gravy and mashed potatoes
3. Look him in the eyes, tell him how important he is to me and what a good provider he is, for our family.
We LOVED reading all your responses and wanted to share a variety of our favorites with you. What a bunch of loving and wise ladies you all are!
Cook at home most of the week. My man doesn’t mind taking me out to eat, but he would rather save it for special occasions, payday, or when we are really busy doing some project that doesn’t allow for us to take time to cook. This saves us money and shows that I care enough to make him his favorite foods. I love to hear him say he likes my food better when we are out at restaurants anyway, so when you give - you get back!
Jenifer
I talk to my kids about how special he is and all the things he does for our family even when people aren’t watching. He may or may not be around but the info always gets back to him somehow.
I’ll be very specific on this one: Prime rib, peach cobbler and chocolate pie — but not all at the same time. 
Make fish for dinner, even though I hate seafood… lol!
Make coffee for him in the morning and bring it to him. It’s a small gesture that would mean a lot to him. I often put my husband’s needs behind our children’s. It’s not right.
Stop correcting his grammar (it’s a habit, homeschool mom you know).
Well, I had MY list but I decided to ask HIM what I do that shows I care…
1. “You allow me to indulge in my “obsession” with the Clemson Tigers and you usually act interested:)”
2. “You laugh with me, not at me”
3. “You make me feel as if I’m the only person in the world…you ALWAYS put me first.”
Get up and hug him when he comes home– welcome him like the conquering hero he is.
I try to respect his desk. Our house gets taken over by stacks and books every day and he’s communicated that if we can just leave his desk clear he will breathe easier.
Stay on top of the bills. He desires that I do the monthly bills, because he is so busy. I tend to get sidetracked and let things slide. It would bless him if I was more organized and focused in the bill paying.
Instant message him at work through out the day with flirty messages.
When hubby is home, I fix his plate of food first and hand it to him. He always gets the best.
Turn off the computer and have some quality time with him after the kids go to bed. What a concept!
I get my work done before he gets home so we can have “time” together at night. So this means I have to manage my daytime well so the night time can be about us.
I keep the thermostat about 10 degrees higher than I would like it in the winter so he will be comfortable.
Kathy
Choosing a cheerful attitude and greeting him with a smile - no matter how my day has gone I need to choose cheerfulness when I greet my husband.
Katrina
Be actively interested in his fantasy sports team, not just the “uh-huh” response
Praying for him and letting him know that I am praying for him. Asking him what his needs are and what he would like me to pray for.
When I drive his car I always turn the radio back to ESPN and move his seat back where he likes it.
My husband coaches select soccer and though I’ve never played the sport, to show him that I love him, I can continue to do my best to attend all of the games. I believe that while the players need to be cheered on, the coach needs his own cheerleader sometime too!
Staying within the budget or even under.
Give him compliments about how good he looks now that he is exercising. He loves compliments especially when he works hard.
Resist the urge to finish his sentence when he’s speaking in Spanish and gets stuck.
Marie Pickrel
Help him without having to be asked. He hates making phone calls and typing things but his job requires both of these tasks. If I offered to do these regularly it would be an outward expression of my love for him.
Gulp. This one is hard. Stop complaining about his job and be so very thankful that he has one, that he works and that he is a very, very hard worker.
Jennifer
I do these quirky little dances that just make him laugh so hard. I love to hear him laugh.
Dee
Always have several loaves of fresh baked whole wheat bread in the freezer for when he runs out!
Listen to him go on and on about politics even if I want to tear my hair out listening to it I won’t show it.
Rebecca Beck
Help keep him organized and informed. Remind him of appointments, hospital visits, counseling schedules or any cancellations. Bring prayer request to his attention. Inform him of what’s happening within our own home. (Children’s accomplishment and drama)
He loves it when I show him that I am attracted to him and make even the smallest advance at all. Let me tell you this will get him out of a sour mood instantly. He loves to be loved and wanted.
Jennifer Kahla
Loving his family, quirks and all. Remembering that he was a package deal just like I was.
Put Some Fire Into Your Marriage (Giveaway!)
February 8, 2009 by AmyS
The winner for this giveaway will be announced on Thursday, February 19.
With Valentine’s Day approaching, we couldn’t think of a better time to introduce new MONTHLY giveaway’s from Heart of the Matter! These will be bigger and better than our previous weekly giveaways. Although loving our spouse should be daily on our minds, February is synonymous with LOVE and ROMANCE. This month, we are giving away a package that is guaranteed to delight you and your sweetheart. You will receive:
- Fireproof DVD, featuring Kirk Cameron
- Love Dare, the book featured in Fireproof
- To Love, Honor and Vacuum, by Sheila Wray Gregoire
- The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands, by Dr. Laura
- A selection of goodies, including chocolate, candy and popcorn, for a romantic movie night.
- “Red Hot” Pamper set for the bath.
To enter…tell us three things that you can do (outside the bedroom) that would show your spouse just how much you care. Big or small, there is no better time to look past your own desires and speak your spouse’s love language! Leave your comment before Monday, February 16th at 10pm EST.
